Dorothy Jean Catey

Dorothy (Dee) Catey, 84, of Kinderhook Township passed away on May 24, 2016 in Coldwater, MI. She was lovingly attended by staff at her home at Grand Vista assisted Living, Hospice and family. She is sorely missed by all who knew her.

A memorial service is planned at Putnam’s Funeral Home on June 5, 2016 at 4:00 PM. Visitation will precede the service, at 3:00 PM.

Dee was born in Shanghai, China to the late Kenneth W. Johnstone and Lucia (Kingman) Johnstone. The family fled the Japanese invasion of Shanghai in 1937 on one of the last ships to escape (the Cleveland). They resided in Florida for several years, and Dee was naturalized at age 12. Eventually, they moved to Michigan as her mother worked for the war effort inspecting bombers.

Dee graduated from high school in Plymouth, MI, then attended MSU intending to become an art teacher. There, she met her husband to be, Daniel Catey, and they were wed at the age of 19.

Property was eventually purchased in Kinderhook Township, where Dan and Dee raised five children and a large and successful herd of Hereford cattle. The two were loyal and loving partners till his death in 1994. She continued to farm with her daughter Cathy and Son-in Law, Leon.

Dee was employed by the Branch County Library in the 1960s as a library clerk and drove the bookmobile, a job she recalled with fondness. She later worked for Coldwater Community Schools as a Library Clerk, serving several elementary schools.

Dee was artistically gifted. Her hobbies included drawing, watercolor and oil painting, knit and crochet. She was an avid gardener, an amateur naturalist and was keenly interested in scientific discoveries.

A private person, she was a kind and forgiving soul. She was liked and admired by all for her sweetness, strength of character and cheerful attitude. She kept her British “stiff upper lip” throughout life’s many trials.

Dee was preceded in death by her beloved husband Daniel, and eldest son, Andrew Catey, DVM. She is survived by children Catherine (Leon) Hansen, Patricia (James) Cook, Daughter-in-Law Danean Catey (Andrew), Michael (Perri) Catey and Barbara (Wayland) Funk, Grandchildren Rachel Catey, Erin (T.J.) Hansen-Balderman, Kenneth (Rachel) Labram, Nathan, April, and Alex Catey and great Grandchildren Flynn Bredemeyer and Brennan Labram.